The sewing project

Just to let everyone know I've not forgotten my sewing project; it's just been put on the back burner for a while. I will have some time this summer to finish the dress I started on my weekend course last September (god that's ages ago)...so watch this space. (And yes, I still need to buy that sewing machine - if anyone has a second hand machine going spare let me know!).

Times are hard, everyone's a swapping

Not long after attending my first Swap It and Tidy Up session I was invited to join a new website via facebook. Normally fairly suspicious of facebook invites as it involved fashion and shopping I decided to take a look and found it quite an interesting concept.

www.covertcandy.co.uk takes advantage of the current economic situation, customers are invited to trade clothes and accessories with no money being exchanged. It is all about credits, earning and spending them online to update and transform your wardrobe, regardless of the size of your bank balance.

All very well if you have anything worth swapping. I did notice, as with Swap It and TidyUp a considerable number of items from that well known high street stores - Primark - featuring.

Primark aside, I think I'm going to give it a go. Although, at this rate I'm going to run out of clothes to swap - I think I gave away all my good stuff a bit too eagerly at the first Swap It and TidyUp, but with a little discipline, this could all be the way forward in 2009.

Swap-It and Tidyup

I attended the first Swap-it and tidyup at The Hideaway in Archway the other week. Having been privy to the plans a few months before, I was nevertheless impressed at the effort that went into what I thought would just be the swapping of a few bits and bobs between friends.

The admittedly too dark basement of The Hideway bar located on Junction Road between Archway and Tufnell Park tubes, was decked out with rails, tables and boxes crammed with tops, dresses, shoes, shirts, bags..the list goes on. A full length mirror had been thoughtfully placed at one end, with homemade chocolate cake, banana cake, and the highlight...fairy cakes with skittles on top, at the other end. Was it really only £2 entry fee?

Having initially been nervous that I may lose friends, rather than come away with new ones, in a scrum of elbows and flying handbags whilst desperately trying secure the best items, I needn't have worried. The event was calmly led by Jossie and Rachel on the mic, telling us when we could get our first, then second, third etc items, with time allowed for anyone wanting the same item to have a 'swap off'. Each person had been given a label with the number of items they had brought, allowing them to leave with the same number. All's fair in love and fashion (war).

The Hideaway serves delicious pizzas, making this a perfect way to break up your week, chat to friends, enjoy a drink and come away with some (actually quite nice) new items. I am very happy with my Ollie and Nic gold purse and summer sandles. I just hope this turns into a quarterly event, giving me time to find some new items to swap it and tidy up.

If you're interested in finding out when the next event is contact:

swapitandtidyup@hotmail.co.uk